2002 vintage. Surprisingly delicious as tart rather than expected very sour. Beautiful red apple colour with moderate creamy head. Rum spice aroma. Refreshingly and long finish. Nice restrained hops, cherry fruit. A mature taste but liked by younger drinking buddy.
Had a fresh one about two years later and moderate tartness, with wine-like taste and sight. (359 characters)

Pours a clear dark brownish red color with a small 1 inch beige head that fades to an oily film on the top of the beer. Random spots of lace here and there on the glass. Smells of red wine vinegar, sour cherries/grapes, and funk/must. Very mouth watering. Taste is of sour cherries/grapes, vinegar, and an earthy funk. There is a very sight level of sweetness present in this beer too (one of the ingredients on the label is sugar). Good carbonation level makes for a bubbly and crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer. There is a great balance between the sourness and the slight sweetness. (639 characters)

A: The beer is clear red in color and has yeast particles floating near the bottom of the glass. It poured with a thin off white head that quickly dissipated into delicate lacing on the surface.S: There are aromas of sour cherries in the nose.T: Slightly sour, the taste has flavors of cherries and oak, but this is balanced by some initial sweetness.M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and smooth on the palate with a slight amount of carbonation.D: The beer is extremely easy to drink; it's very flavorful, there are absolutely no traces of alcohol present in the taste and the sourness is mild and isn't overpowering.

Pours a nice garnet-mahogany color with a light tan head. There is a bit of light, spotty lacing.. Light foam on top of the brew. Nose brings some light cherry and oak plus some light vinegar. There is also a bit of cardboard in the nose. Taste brings some cherry and light oxidation. A bit of mild oak and creamy sweetness. Medium body and a bit of a creamy character. Some mild sourness. Really drinkable with a nice, light sour finish and a bit of oak. (510 characters)

Appearance: Pours a hazy russet color with a modest, bubbly head that leaves a few dots and dashes around the chalice

Smell: The predominate aroma is of sweet cherry, but if you hand around the scent for a while you begin to pick up more subtle elements, such as sour cherry, apple, prune, leather, raisin and oak

Taste: The sweet cherry flavor, mixed with a bready brown ale aspect, presents itself up front, followed by tart fruit, and a growing vinegar-like acidity; after the swallow, the mellow oak and leather flavors also become detectable

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with low to moderate carbonation

Drinkability: A bit sweeter than I was expecting and, to my palate, that limits the drinkability somewhat; nevertheless, a very interesting beer that is worth seeking out (816 characters)

this is big boy beer, a textbook oud bruin, probably the best ive had. it pours a red tinted maple brown color with a frothy and dense oatmeal head with flawless retention. the nose on this is really nice, a little tart, not quite sour, with some fruity notes and a lot of hefty caramel malt sweetness. I pick up some fresh figs on the taste, as well as dried oranges and golden raisins, it is a complex malt base here. the top notes are acidic and alcoholic, with the fruity bits taking a back seat to yeasty funk and tannic dryness. all of it getting more intense as it warms up. big body is made lighter by the acid, and by lively carbonation. I could se myself drinking this regularly if it were available. its a classy beer, a glistening example of the oud bruit style, and a beer I really recommend, especially at the 9 bucks a bottle steal we copped this for. it must be done. (883 characters)

Stately, mature, characterful and slight eccentric- this is Belgian brewing at its best! With less tartness than Flemish Reds or Lambics but with a rich depth of character that distinguishes it from the typical Belgian Doubles and Triples.

Understated yet creamy carbonation allows for a mellow decanting- nearly cask-like. Distinct aromas ar of must, peaty earth, lightly horsey and with a cork-like wodiness. Rich malt flavors push to the forefront, but foregoing the associates sweetness of caramel or sugar. Medium bodied in texture, the mild lemony sourness seems to further lighten the malt-forward ale and usher in a soft lactic dryness. Mildly astringent when the woody notes pronounce, but the finish is a marvelous malty-dry yet crisply tart combination that work in harmony.

A light earthy/briney flavor reminds me Orval except with more body and sweetness. Riding on the side saddle with French Ales but with the sour attitue of the Senne Valley the beer is a new adventure with each sip. Masculine and refines but without pretention. (1,049 characters)

This poured out as a reddish brown color, the head was thin and white. The smell of the beer gives off plenty of wild yeast aromas that sting the nose. The aroma of some sour cherry is also in there. The taste of the beer was pretty good actually, it was tart but not overwhelming. I found it to be well balanced actually. The mouthfeel was light and similar to a wine. Overall this brew was pretty good for the style, just not always my preference. (449 characters)

Pourred a nice deep brown brew with a dark head that stayed on for a while. Very acidic and sour taste with a hint of sugar. This is OK but not my favorite of the Liefmans. Still I noticed that this one has more head then the other Liefmans and lots of sediment at the bottom... (278 characters)

Taste and mouthfeel - Caramel and sour cherries at the forefront; nice sweet-sour dynamic, with sweetness being a bit more prominent. Undertones of vanilla, raisins and minerals. Medium-bodied with just enough carbonation to keep it lively.

2005 Vintage. Good until September 2015, according to the gold cap atop the cork and beneath the cage. I was going to hang onto this one a while longer, but the rumors of Brouwerij Liefmans's impending bankruptcy spurred me to review it while I'm still able.

Autumn leaves russet with bright tangerine accents and a barely visible yeasty haze. The crown (equal parts pale orange, gold and ecru) filled half the glass on the pour. The foam is heavily creamy and lace is being laid down in a beautiful array.

The nose is absolutely classic for the style. Each deep inhale delivers an intriguing blend of sour cherries, fruit vinegar and loads of oak. If the aroma translates in intact form to the palate... watch out!

Goudenband is everything that I'd hoped for and more. It's been too long since I've had a good Flanders oud bruin or Flanders red ale (Iowa isn't exactly bursting at the seams with them). I'd forgotten how the best ones are such a sublime balancing act between sweet and sour.

There's so much deliciousness going on that it's hard to know where to start. Specifics include both sweet and tart cherries, fig jam, bruised apples, leather, an oaky woodiness, and a splash of cider vinegar. Maybe a little brown sugar as well. The sweetness won't be for everyone (and it's keeping my samples to sips), but it's a great take on the style.

My taste buds are so busy processing the amazing complexity they have no time to register the alcohol. The out-of-this-world mouthfeel is lightly silky, impressively expansive and is effervescent in a good way. No dropoff here. None at all.

Liefmans Goudenband is the single best Flanders oud bruin that I've ever had. No less an expert than the late, great Michael Jackson considered it to be a 'world classic'. I humbly agree. It would be a shame if beer lovers the world over were no longer able to drink this divine libation. Here's hoping the brewery finds a way to survive. (1,935 characters)

Blue tissue paper wrapped 'label', encapsulating a green Burgundian 750ml bottle - just like I present potable gifts at Christmas time! I like their name for it - 'Provision Ale' - there's just something dire and edgy about that particular nomenclature.

This beer pours a lightly hazy, cola-tinted dark amber hue, with further bright ruby highlights, and three fingers of fine, densely foamy beige head, which settles in for a fair spell, eventually rendering a low storm front pattern of lace around the glass.

It smells of sour, acidic orchard fruit, cherry and apple, mostly, musty caramel malt, sugary red grapes, and a mild earthy yeastiness. The taste is more of the same goodness - a nice balance of tart, unripe stone fruit, sugary pale grain, red wine tannins, applesauce, and a soft woody, earthy yeastiness. Any purported warming from the 8 points of booze is likely just an unsubstantiated eddy in the continuum.

The carbonation is mostly quite mild, the body medium weight, in an unabashedly fruity manner, subtly pithy, and generally workaday smooth. It finishes off-dry, some residual graininess and reserved sourness doing well in slowly turning out the lights.

A very pleasant tipple - the drying tartness is just strong enough to make your mouth water, and induce another sip, one fast on the previous one's heel at that. No tongue scraping here, folks, just an enjoyable introduction into one of the more approachable versions of Belgian sour ale. (1,472 characters)

Served in a Liefmans .3L wide fluted glass. Pours a ruddy brown with garnet highlights. Ample foam and lacing around the rim.

Smells of oak, cherry, and dark malt. Sort of cidery.

Taste is pretty unique, tartness comes out at first, followed by a sweeter balsamic note. Earthy yeast is in there, which makes a brief cameo. Sweet cherry or grape note. Have to take it down .5 here, since this tastes like sugar was added, compared to an older bottle from 2001 (see later review). Slightly dry, tart finish persuades another sip. One 750, or 2 drafts would probably be equivalent for a session. Get it while you can!

>>>2001 vintage...and the love affair with Goudenband continues.

Pours pretty nasty, deep mahogany brown with suspended yeast chunks. Every vintage bottle of this I try turns out different. 2001 was a good year apparently.The fat, spongy cork may have something to do with its sustained freshness. A brief sizzle of carbonation happens once poured, but settles to nothing soon enough.

Aroma of horse stalls, vinegar, and sweet mustard. The yeast fans out in all manner of funky directions. Sweet and sour like a Gueuze, but walking the line on the dark side. It has a mustiness that feels ancient, like it had been stored since the Middle Ages.

Sour upfront, finally. This is the Goudenband i've heard about. Forget the 2000 batch and some prior, the corks don't seem to age as well to this present date. This is conclusive evidence after sampling several flat '00 vintage bottles and a 750mL from the early '90's. Look for a larger cork and you'll do well.

Residual lemon citrus sourness, and a mellow blanket of oaky woodiness. Balanced and mellow with age. Mild cherry skin here, but more akin to a Gueuze.

Pours a dark reddish-chestnut brown, with alot of clarity. Large bubbles result from a "higher-altitude" pour, but don't stick around. The ale soon looks like flat cola in the glass.

Smell is strong, a touch phenolic and berry-like. Musty basement notes lurk at the edges, but don't overpower it.

Taste still packs a punch. Almond nuttiness in the malt moves to a dark berry/plum with muted spice and a cola finish. Aftertaste is almost like fruit juice, too sweet to be wine, but not really dry at all. Nearly none of the signature tartness of a fresh bottle.

Mouthfeel is a bit thin without the usual carbonation, and the ABV becomes somewhat more apparent, which hinders the drinkability.

Notes: I was eager to try this vintage bottle, since the recipe reportedly changed post 2002. Age has mellowed it quite a bit, there was minimal to no carbonation, but still a very unique ale. Although the current version is a touch sweeter, I prefer it to an older vintage. The 10 yr. shelf-life is probably a good guideline to follow when cellaring, drink it before it gets too old...

Thanks BeerBeing!

EDIT: Recently tried a 2001 vintage, WOW. Perfectly aged, dusty, fruity, sourness. Still showed good carbonation and funky aroma. Amazing how the variability ranges in a 10+ yr. bottle, and a 6 yr. bottle. Will factor this sample in this score, for an overall vintage rating. See above review. (3,394 characters)

I have been hunting this one down for a while now, and finally was able to acquire one in a trade recently. I put it immediately into the fridge and took it out last night to sit with and enjoy for a little while. A very nice looking 375ml bottle, wrapped up in paper greeted me, and I proceeded to decant it into an over sized wine glass for some proper enjoyment.

Appearance - The pour was decent; a rich red tinted brown liquid was presented in front of me. Some floaties were present, but not too much at all. A smallish, maybe one inch high head of off white colored foam then rose up off of it and settled down rather quickly leaving behind only the slightest bit of a crown on top, and some small side glass contribution. It looked good, but I am not blown away to be honest.

Smell - The aroma was thick, and sweet, almost like a syrup. Lots of very dark fruit flavors, currants, and dark cherries, were easily found in here. Some touches of fig were to be found as well, not picking up any of the sour notes though that others have mentioned, and I am a big fan of sours, and this was no sour. I am starting to think I have a bad batch here or something to be honest. As it warms it gets a little more earthy, but is still very, very sweet overall.

Taste - The flavor was more of the same, and I picked up no sour in here, in the beginning, middle, or end of it. There was just none to be found. It was sickingly sweet to me, with an off, musty malt profile that just did not fit at all. Lots of bready like flavors, just odd to me. Hints of dark cherries, figs, prune maybe, nothing spicy, just very sweet, too much so. No hint of alcohol in this, but for me, it was not the most enjoyable experience I have had.

Mouthfeel - Fell flat again here, literally with nowhere near enough carbonation, the profile was just too slim to be able to hold up such a thick syrup like feel. I just don t know what else to say, came off like cough syrup, but too candy like sweet.

Drinkability - I again am under impressed here. The alcohol was well hidden, which made it nice, however it was too dull, and the flavors were just off. I am not sure what this was supposed to be, but I am starting to think the one I have was not the way it was meant to be,. It was ok, but nothing spectacular, and I could not see myself drinking this all night.

Overall not sure what happened here, but this was definitely not my idea of exemplary by any means. It was too sweet, unbalanced, and under carbonated. I have had much, much better in the style. I am hoping my bottle was just off, I have another to compare later on so we shall see. (2,627 characters)

Its great to have a chance to try world classics like this you really need to savor beer like this,pours a great brown color with very nice red tints showing thru everywhere in the glass not as much head as expected but the color was awesome.A very complex aroma consisting of some mustiness when first opening andsour cheery with a nice spicey element allspice maybe?Taste is oaky and sour but not nearly as sour as I thought it would be wich is a good thing for me I pick up a light spice not as well with a vinegar and light salty note in the finish.Wow a great extremely complex beer one to savor for sure. (610 characters)

Finally was able to pick up a bottle of this. This is from the newest batch, 2010.

A: The pour is a dark amber color with a thin off-white head that dissipates quickly, leaving a thin ring around the the glass.

S: Starts off with a touch of vinegar and metal. There's a bit of a banana note as well as a touch of dark fruit (plums). Some alcohol and oak, too.

T: The flavor is a bit better. A slight tartness without the same metallic character. There's a slightly drying, tannic character on the finish. A moderate sweetness to it with dark caramel malts and dark fruits.

M: The body is medium with a nice full level of carbonation.

D: Not quite as much tartness as I prefer for this style, but I suppose it's still accurate. The metallic character wasn't really doing much for me, either. Might try aging my other bottle to see how it improves. (851 characters)

Taste: Toasted, crusty bread coated in a deep, toothsome taste of caramelized sugars and an additional heap of sweet brown sugar. The lightly tart fruitiness and a brush of mild tannins come together to give an impression of cherryskins. Hint of damp boardwalk planks. Earthy yeastiness. Sweet sip of Southern-style sweet tea. Very subtle phenols. Closes out with a lingering sweet/sour finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Lightly carbonated. Some sticky chewiness to the mouthfeel.

Drinkability: It's just a hair sweeter than anticipated, I may have appreciated just a bit more countering sourness. Still, it's as efficient and easy as coming up with the typical "the Xbox is big" jokes. Hardy har har. Paired well with the recent ABC Family Harry Potter weekend marathon. (1,121 characters)

A - 1.5 fingers of caramel tinged, off white foam settles quickly on top of a dark and hazy reddish-brown body.

S - Sour caramel (?? I think I just invented a new dessert), rasisn/plums/figs, and subtle yeast funk.

T - Sweet-sour with dark fruit. Malty, caramel, with slight roast. Earthy yeast notes are more pronounced than in the nose. The finish is more of the sweet/sour interaction with a bit of grassy hop flavor and steady earthy funk with a lingering alcohol warmth.

M - Light body and very dry. High carbonation.

D - This is a beautiful beer. The overall impression is almost of that of an English old ale with sour funk substituted for hops. I can't imagine slugging these down, but I can tell you that I am enjoying sipping the one in front of me immensely. (773 characters)

You take the goud, you take the band... ...Sorry... Anyway, this stuff pours a brackish brown-sienna topped by a finger of light tan foam. The nose comprises tart black cherry, mild cocoa, mild maple syrup, and red apple. The taste brings in more of the same, though the tartness is heavily exchanged in favor of sweetness, some mild red wine grapes are tossed in for good measure, and a general sense of caramel apple pervades at times, particularly near the finish. The body is a light-leaning medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a slightly drying finish. Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable beer, one that went well with the surroundings somehow (you had to be there...trust me...). (723 characters)

Liefman's Goudenband from the historic waterside town of Oudenaarde is one of the few remaining classics of the oud bruin style. It's brewed with 4 different hop varieties; a 100-year old yeast strain; a 12-hour boil; 6 to 8 months maturation before blending; and then 3 months of additional aging once it's primed and dosed with a shot of secondary yeast... and it shows!

Carefully poured from a long-standing bottle it's a surprisingly clear ruby-tinted mahogany that displays orange-ish highlights at the base of the goblet. A large head of exceptionally creamy off-white foam holds exceptionally well, maintaining itself throughout the glass and leaving some noteable lace. The nose is quite complex with a variety of aromas that include oakish, vanilla-laced wood; honeyish caramelized sugars; dark fruits (plum, red grape, cherry); a mild touch of Brettanomyces; and a subtle hint of sweat-sock/old cheese hops. The light body is gently crisp and smooth in the mouth; but almost takes a backseat its the puckering, tart acidity. It starts tart and then fruity, but softens to reveal some sherry-like, earthy, lightly toasted and woody malt before ending in a dry finish. Quite exceptional! It offers most of the tartness of an authentic straight-forward lambic; but with a cleaner profile and more fruitiness! Tart, fruity, refreshing! (1,345 characters)

Dark clear mahogany in the glass with a long-lasting foam. A pleasant spritzy mouthful. This one is more sweet and sour, but in an appealing and nice-balanced way. wlight woody bitterness to finish. A little toffee and sweet malt, but a long, sour finish. It doesn't taste at all of alcohol.

The Belgian candy flavor is right up front. On tap at Local Habit in San Diego. The usual dry yeasty taste is there as well, but it gets lost in the tart, roasted grainy flavors. This is a very interesting beer that is more drinkable than most of the sour varieties I've tried. It also tastes just like so many forgettable beers I drank in Belgium, but with the addition of the acidic sensation. On tap at Local Habit in San Diego. (724 characters)

Now if I read this cap right, this beer is good until February 2015. I am glad I am getting to this while I can. The next eight years are a little booked for me.

Pours a clouded ruby brown that is very dark. No head. Nose is musty, woody, with a floral sweetness. Flavor is outstanding. Nice slighty fruity touch with a sugar sweetness. Definite wood on the edge. Feel is good. Nice level of bubble attacking your mouth in a fairly aggressive way. Highly drinkable. Damn good. Worth trying.

1992! Pours a clear brown with a ruby hue. Nose is antiseptic funk with a grape tone. Flavor is wide. I said it seemed like a darker honey and the bartender I shared it with said it reminded him of buckwheat honey. I might have to go find some to taste now. Vanilla is on there is well I think? Wood is noticed too. Smooth liquid feel and a low carbonation. This is amazing. A once in a lifetime opportunity that I was able to take advantage. (scores are exactly duplicate) (1,001 characters)

T: Sour, then dry wood (oak) notes & then some cherry notes. As it warms you hints of medicinal & woodruff (the green syrup used in berliner weiss) notes wash over a long with a sweet yet sour cherry vibe with a little bit of lactic taste. Some apple skin notes as well. Finishes dry, with hints of dates & cherry

MF: Slighty syruppy & dry like you'd expect

A little too complex & dry to session on, but certainally good for 2. Would never guess this was 8% abv. I've had better flemish browns, but this is pretty good & represents the style well! (847 characters)